Patents by Inventor Horst J. Schroeter

Horst J. Schroeter has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11449595
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products authenticate users for access to devices, applications, and services. Skills of a user are learned over time, such that an electronic model of random subject matter may be generated. The user is prompted to interpret the random subject matter, such as with an electronic drawing. The user's interpretation is then compared to the electronic model of the random subject matter. If the user's interpretation matches the electronic model, the user may be authenticated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Kevin A. Li, Troy C. Meuninck, Robert Raymond Miller, II, James H. Pratt, Horst J. Schroeter, Behzad Shahraray
  • Publication number: 20220180632
    Abstract: A system for exploiting visual information for enhancing audio signals via source separation and beamforming is disclosed. The system may obtain visual content associated with an environment of a user, and may extract, from the visual content, metadata associated with the environment. The system may determine a location of the user based on the extracted metadata. Additionally, the system may load, based on the location, an audio profile corresponding to the location of the user. The system may also load a user profile of the user that includes audio data associated with the user. Furthermore, the system may cancel, based on the audio profile and user profile, noise from the environment of the user. Moreover, the system may include adjusting, based on the audio profile and user profile, an audio signal generated by the user so as to enhance the audio signal during a communications session of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2022
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventors: Dimitrios Dimitriadis, Donald J. Bowen, Lusheng Ji, Horst J. Schroeter
  • Patent number: 11335320
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for intelligent caching of concatenative speech units for use in speech synthesis. A system configured to practice the method can identify speech units that are required for synthesizing speech. The system can request from a server the text-to-speech unit needed to synthesize the speech. The system can then synthesize speech using text-to-speech units already stored and a received text-to-speech unit from the server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Benjamin J. Stern, Mark Charles Beutnagel, Alistair D. Conkie, Horst J. Schroeter, Amanda Joy Stent
  • Patent number: 11295137
    Abstract: A system for exploiting visual information for enhancing audio signals via source separation and beamforming is disclosed. The system may obtain visual content associated with an environment of a user, and may extract, from the visual content, metadata associated with the environment. The system may determine a location of the user based on the extracted metadata. Additionally, the system may load, based on the location, an audio profile corresponding to the location of the user. The system may also load a user profile of the user that includes audio data associated with the user. Furthermore, the system may cancel, based on the audio profile and user profile, noise from the environment of the user. Moreover, the system may include adjusting, based on the audio profile and user profile, an audio signal generated by the user so as to enhance the audio signal during a communications session of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: AT&T INIELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Dimitrios Dimitriadis, Donald J. Bowen, Lusheng Ji, Horst J. Schroeter
  • Patent number: 11210336
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products help users recall memories and search for content of those memories. When a user cannot recall a memory, the user is prompted with questions to help recall the memory. As the user answers the questions, a virtual recollection of the memory is synthesized from the answers to the questions. When the user is satisfied with the virtual recollection of the memory, a database of content may be searched for the virtual recollection of the memory. Video data, for example, may be retrieved that matches the virtual recollection of the memory. The video data is thus historical data documenting past events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Kevin A. Li, Troy C. Meuninck, Robert Raymond Miller, II, James H. Pratt, Horst J. Schroeter, Behzad Shahraray
  • Patent number: 11206332
    Abstract: A pre-distortion system for improved mobile device communications via cancellation of nonlinear distortion is disclosed. The pre-distortion system may transmit an acoustic signal from a network to a device, wherein the acoustic signal includes a linear signal and a nonlinear cancellation signal that cancels at least a portion of nonlinear distortions created once a loudspeaker in the device emits the linear signal. Thus, when a loudspeaker of a mobile device is operating and nonlinear distortions are generated by the loudspeaker or adjacent components of the mobile device in close proximity to the loudspeaker, the pre-distortion system may create one or more nonlinear cancellation signals in the network. The nonlinear cancellation signal may be combined with the linear signal sent to the loudspeaker to cancel the nonlinear distortion signal created by the loudspeaker emitting acoustic sounds from the linear signal. Thus, the nonlinear cancellation signal becomes a pre-distortion signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Horst J. Schroeter, Donald J. Bowen, Dimitrios Dimitriadis, Lusheng Ji
  • Patent number: 11031027
    Abstract: A system for providing an acoustic environment recognizer for optimal speech processing is disclosed. In particular, the system may utilize metadata obtained from various acoustic environments to assist in suppressing ambient noise interfering with a desired audio signal. In order to do so, the system may receive an audio stream including an audio signal associated with a user and including ambient noise obtained from an acoustic environment of the user. The system may obtain first metadata associated with the ambient noise, and may determine if the first metadata corresponds to second metadata in a profile for the acoustic environment. If the first metadata corresponds to the second metadata, the system may select a processing scheme for suppressing the ambient noise from the audio stream, and process the audio stream using the processing scheme. Once the audio stream is processed, the system may provide the audio stream to a destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Horst J. Schroeter, Donald J. Bowen, Dimitrios B. Dimitriadis, Lusheng Ji
  • Publication number: 20210068935
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products monitor a person's regimen for medicinal and dietary restrictions. When the person's regimen requires a liquid medication or supplement, an oral instrument is commanded to dispense a dosage of fluid. The oral instrument stores a reservoir of the fluid. If the oral instrument is a spoon, for example, the spoon may automatically dispense cough syrup or other medicine. A toothbrush, likewise, may automatically dispense mouthwash. A sensor may confirm presence of the oral instrument in the person's mouth, thus ensuring the dosage of fluid is ingested.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Kevin A. Li, Troy C. Meuninck, Robert Raymond Miller, II, James H. Pratt, Horst J. Schroeter, Behzad Shahraray
  • Publication number: 20210049362
    Abstract: A system for exploiting visual information for enhancing audio signals via source separation and beamforming is disclosed. The system may obtain visual content associated with an environment of a user, and may extract, from the visual content, metadata associated with the environment. The system may determine a location of the user based on the extracted metadata. Additionally, the system may load, based on the location, an audio profile corresponding to the location of the user. The system may also load a user profile of the user that includes audio data associated with the user. Furthermore, the system may cancel, based on the audio profile and user profile, noise from the environment of the user. Moreover, the system may include adjusting, based on the audio profile and user profile, an audio signal generated by the user so as to enhance the audio signal during a communications session of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2020
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Inventors: Dimitrios Dimitriadis, Donald J. Bowen, Lusheng Ji, Horst J. Schroeter
  • Publication number: 20210004450
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products authenticate users for access to devices, applications, and services. Skills of a user are learned over time, such that an electronic model of random subject matter may be generated. The user is prompted to interpret the random subject matter, such as with an electronic drawing. The user's interpretation is then compared to the electronic model of the random subject matter. If the user's interpretation matches the electronic model, the user may be authenticated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Kevin A. Li, Troy C. Meuninck, Robert Raymond Miller, II, James H. Pratt, Horst J. Schroeter, Behzad Shahraray
  • Patent number: 10878063
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products monitor a person's regimen for medicinal and dietary restrictions. When the person's regimen requires a liquid medication or supplement, an oral instrument is commanded to dispense a dosage of fluid. The oral instrument stores a reservoir of the fluid. If the oral instrument is a spoon, for example, the spoon may automatically dispense cough syrup or other medicine. A toothbrush, likewise, may automatically dispense mouthwash. A sensor may confirm presence of the oral instrument in the person's mouth, thus ensuring the dosage of fluid is ingested.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Kevin A. Li, Troy C. Meuninck, Robert Raymond Miller, II, James H. Pratt, Horst J. Schroeter, Behzad Shahraray
  • Patent number: 10853653
    Abstract: A system for exploiting visual information for enhancing audio signals via source separation and beamforming is disclosed. The system may obtain visual content associated with an environment of a user, and may extract, from the visual content, metadata associated with the environment. The system may determine a location of the user based on the extracted metadata. Additionally, the system may load, based on the location, an audio profile corresponding to the location of the user. The system may also load a user profile of the user that includes audio data associated with the user. Furthermore, the system may cancel, based on the audio profile and user profile, noise from the environment of the user. Moreover, the system may include adjusting, based on the audio profile and user profile, an audio signal generated by the user so as to enhance the audio signal during a communications session of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Dimitrios Dimitriadis, Donald J. Bowen, Lusheng Ji, Horst J. Schroeter
  • Patent number: 10823835
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products determine electromagnetic reflective characteristics of ambient environments. A wireless communications device sends a cellular impulse and receives reflections of the cellular impulse. The cellular impulse and the reflections of the cellular impulse may be compared to determine the electromagnetic reflective characteristics of an ambient environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Robert Raymond Miller, II, Kevin A. Li, Troy C. Meuninck, James H. Pratt, Horst J. Schroeter, Behzad Shahraray
  • Patent number: 10810299
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products authenticate users for access to devices, applications, and services. Skills of a user are learned over time, such that an electronic model of random subject matter may be generated. The user is prompted to interpret the random subject matter, such as with an electronic drawing. The user's interpretation is then compared to the electronic model of the random subject matter. If the user's interpretation matches the electronic model, the user may be authenticated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Kevin A. Li, Troy C. Meuninck, Robert Raymond Miller, II, James H. Pratt, Horst J. Schroeter, Behzad Shahraray
  • Publication number: 20200320973
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for intelligent caching of concatenative speech units for use in speech synthesis. A system configured to practice the method can identify speech units that are required for synthesizing speech. The system can request from a server the text-to-speech unit needed to synthesize the speech. The system can then synthesize speech using text-to-speech units already stored and a received text-to-speech unit from the server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Inventors: Benjamin J. STERN, Mark Charles BEUTNAGEL, Alistair D. CONKIE, Horst J. SCHROETER, Amanda Joy STENT
  • Patent number: 10699694
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for intelligent caching of concatenative speech units for use in speech synthesis. A system configured to practice the method can identify speech units that are required for synthesizing speech. The system can request from a server the text-to-speech unit needed to synthesize the speech. The system can then synthesize speech using text-to-speech units already stored and a received text-to-speech unit from the server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Benjamin J. Stern, Mark Charles Beutnagel, Alistair D. Conkie, Horst J. Schroeter, Amanda Joy Stent
  • Publication number: 20200028970
    Abstract: A pre-distortion system for improved mobile device communications via cancellation of nonlinear distortion is disclosed. The pre-distortion system may transmit an acoustic signal from a network to a device, wherein the acoustic signal includes a linear signal and a nonlinear cancellation signal that cancels at least a portion of nonlinear distortions created once a loudspeaker in the device emits the linear signal. Thus, when a loudspeaker of a mobile device is operating and nonlinear distortions are generated by the loudspeaker or adjacent components of the mobile device in close proximity to the loudspeaker, the pre-distortion system may create one or more nonlinear cancellation signals in the network. The nonlinear cancellation signal may be combined with the linear signal sent to the loudspeaker to cancel the nonlinear distortion signal created by the loudspeaker emitting acoustic sounds from the linear signal. Thus, the nonlinear cancellation signal becomes a pre-distortion signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Horst J. Schroeter, Donald J. Bowen, Dimitrios Dimitriadis, Lusheng Ji
  • Publication number: 20190384979
    Abstract: A system for exploiting visual information for enhancing audio signals via source separation and beamforming is disclosed. The system may obtain visual content associated with an environment of a user, and may extract, from the visual content, metadata associated with the environment. The system may determine a location of the user based on the extracted metadata. Additionally, the system may load, based on the location, an audio profile corresponding to the location of the user. The system may also load a user profile of the user that includes audio data associated with the user. Furthermore, the system may cancel, based on the audio profile and user profile, noise from the environment of the user. Moreover, the system may include adjusting, based on the audio profile and user profile, an audio signal generated by the user so as to enhance the audio signal during a communications session of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Dimitrios Dimitriadis, Donald J. Bowen, Lusheng Ji, Horst J. Schroeter
  • Publication number: 20190339375
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products determine electromagnetic reflective characteristics of ambient environments. A wireless communications device sends a cellular impulse and receives reflections of the cellular impulse. The cellular impulse and the reflections of the cellular impulse may be compared to determine the electromagnetic reflective characteristics of an ambient environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Robert Raymond Miller, II, Kevin A. Li, Troy C. Meuninck, James H. Pratt, Horst J. Schroeter, Behzad Shahraray
  • Patent number: 10432797
    Abstract: A pre-distortion system for improved mobile device communications via cancellation of nonlinear distortion is disclosed. The pre-distortion system may transmit an acoustic signal from a network to a device, wherein the acoustic signal includes a linear signal and a nonlinear cancellation signal that cancels at least a portion of nonlinear distortions created once a loudspeaker in the device emits the linear signal. Thus, when a loudspeaker of a mobile device is operating and nonlinear distortions are generated by the loudspeaker or adjacent components of the mobile device in close proximity to the loudspeaker, the pre-distortion system may create one or more nonlinear cancellation signals in the network. The nonlinear cancellation signal may be combined with the linear signal sent to the loudspeaker to cancel the nonlinear distortion signal created by the loudspeaker emitting acoustic sounds from the linear signal. Thus, the nonlinear cancellation signal becomes a pre-distortion signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Horst J. Schroeter, Donald J. Bowen, Dimitrios Dimitriadis, Lusheng Ji